adminKUALA LUMPUR: After almost three decades of being a song close to the hearts of Malaysians, composer Datuk Wah Idris would like to see Standing in the Eyes of the World given greater recognition as a special national anthem.
Wah, 69, said that the work popularized by singer Ella has its own value and should be elevated as part of the country’s musical heritage and played at various official events and national programs.
He said the song should be given its own space and recognition as a work that can unite Malaysians regardless of background, as well as bring the country’s message to the international stage.
In this regard, he suggested that the matter be refined and brought to the relevant parties for further consideration and discussion.
“We must feel proud that we have one solid neutral song that can bring or leverage Malaysian people to the whole world,” he said at the symposium Standing in the Eyes of the World: Behind the Creative Process, Collective Memory and the Meaning of a Song in conjunction with My Symposium on Practice as Research (MySPAR) 2026.
The symposium organised by the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) was also attended by singer Ella and lyricist Datuk Habsah Hassan.
Reflecting on the composition of the song, he said that the work began from his desire to produce a song that could elevate Malaysia’s name on the international stage in conjunction with the organisation of the 1998 Commonwealth Games (SUKOM).
Wah said he wanted lyrics that were universal and not tied to a sports theme alone, but instead capable of fueling the enthusiasm and confidence of the listeners.
The combination of melody and lyrics ultimately made the song close to the community, and its use even expanded beyond the context of the sports games that were the starting point for the creation of the work.
He also saw the development as proof that Standing in the Eyes of the World has the potential to survive as a work owned and appreciated by various levels of society.
The song once caught the attention of the United States Embassy in Malaysia, which chose the piece to be given a new lease of life to celebrate the country’s Independence Day on July 4, 2020.
— BERNAMA
